Native aluminium is an extremely rare metallic mineral that typically occurs as tiny inclusions or irregular grains within other minerals. Because it oxidizes easily in nature to form a protective layer, collectors should look for silver-white metallic flakes often found in geological settings associated with volcanic activity.
Is this native aluminium?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch native aluminium with a known reference. Native Aluminium sits at Mohs 1.5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Native Aluminium leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Native Aluminium typically shows a metallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: white, silver-white, gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: cubic. Typical habit: massive, grains, flakes, thin plates.
Often confused with
Native Aluminium vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside native aluminium
Minerals reported to co-occur with native aluminium. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Al
- Mohs hardness
- 1.5
- Density
- 2.55 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- Crystal habit
- Massive, Grains, Flakes, Thin Plates
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific Research
- Host rock
- Volcanic Rocks, Low-temperature Hydrothermal Deposits
- Typical price
- $50-500 depending on specimen size and provenance
Where rockhounds find native aluminium
Classic worldwide localities
- Russia
- Azerbaijan
- Italy
- Kazakhstan
Field-hunting tip
Look in volcanic rocks, low-temperature hydrothermal deposits country — that is the host setting where native aluminium typically forms. If you start seeing corundum, magnetite, ilmenite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a massive, grains, flakes, thin plates habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find native aluminium on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
